BP019.1 VOLII; BP019.2 VOLIII; BP019.3 Vol IV; BP019.4 Vol V and BP019.5 Vol VI. Five dark brown/red linen hard covered books with gilt text on the spine. Each volume has a library sticker inside the front cover. Full title: "The lives of early Methodist Preachers chiefly written by themselves edited by Thomas Jackson".non-fictionvaughan wesleyan sunday school library

A black speckled self textured covered Methodist Hymn book with tunes. It has a ribbon bookmark attached. The title is printed in gold lettering at the top of the front cover and spine. On the endpapers at the front is The Lord's Prayer printed inside a red ornate frame and opposite is the hymn, Gloria with music similarly framed. The back endpapers have the hymn music for Dorology and the prayer, Benedictions - both are framed in red lines. The edges of the pages are in gilt. At the back of the book there is an Index of tunes alphabetically arranged, a metrical index of tunes, composers and sources of tunes and hymns with tunes and metres, plus a list of ancient hymns and canticles. On page vi at the front is a note stating it is an Australasian Edition prepared for and copyrighted in the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand. 948p.non-fictionA Methodist Hymn Book which is a lineal descendent after a lapse of 125 years of the volume known as Wesley's Hymns for which John Wesley wrote a celebrated preface in 1779. It has the words and music for all the hymns included. It is an Australasian Edition specially prepared for and copyrighted in the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand.religious books, hymns

Rev. W. A. Quick (1820-1915) was a significant figure in Victorian Methodism. President of the Queen's College Council 1888-1908. Chairman of the Tasmanian District 1861-71. President of the Australian Conference, 1866.Black and white print on buff paper. Head & shoulders portrait of the Rev. William Abraham Quick."REV W.A.QUICK EX-PRESIDENT WESLEYAN CONFERENCE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA"methodist, wesleyan, rev w a quick, wesleyan conference, president of the wesleyan conference

Alexander Robert Edgar 1850 - 1914. Methodist Minister. Served at Wesley Church Lonsdale Street for 21 years. Founded the Central Mission, and was Superintendent of the Mission 1893 - 1910. Edgar was the last President of the Wesleyan Conference of Victoria and Tasmania in 1901 and presided at the opening of the first United Methodist Session until Dr Fitchett was elected President.B & W profile portrait of the Rev. Alexander Robert Edgar, printed for publication. On the reverse is a photo of the Rev. A.R. Edgar memorial tablet in Wesley Church.Rev. A.R. Edgaralexander robert edgar, methodist minister, wesley church, central mission, president of the wesleyan conference, dr fitchett

Alexander Robert Edgar 1850 - 1914. Methodist Minister. Served at Wesley Church Lonsdale Street for 21 years. Founded the Central Mission, and was Superintendent of the Mission 1893 - 1910. Edgar was the last President of the Wesleyan Conference of Victoria and Tasmania in 1901 and presided at the opening of the first United Methodist Session until Dr Fitchett was elected President.Sepia coloured three quarter seated portrait of the Rev. Alexander Robert Edgar dressed in his Presidential robes. Mounted on buff card.Rev. A.R. Edgaralexander robert edgar, methodist minister, wesley church, central mission, president of the wesleyan conference, dr fitchett

Embossed black leather bible with gold lettering on spine. The bible has 2 embossed gold labels on the front end paper. On spine: "Holy Bible". End paper: "PRESENTED TO THE REV. N. BENNETT AT THE CLOSE OF HIS YEAR OF OFFICE AS PRESIDENT OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA WESLEYAN CONFERENCE JANUARY 1889. JAMES W. CRISP President. E. WATSON NYE Secretary." "PRESENTED TO THE BUCKLEY PARK METHODIST CHURCH BY Mrs A.H. Mitchell DUAGHTER OF THE ABOVE FEBRUARY 18TH. 1928."bennett, natheniel, rev., crisp, james w., rev., nye, edward wason, rev., wesleyan methodist conference

WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much-loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. The King and People of Fiji Author: Joseph Waterhouse Publisher: Wesleyan Conference Office Date: 1866 The label on spine with typed text RA 996.11 WAT Inside Front, endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Inside front, endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Museum Handwriting on the Flypaper reads " Henty Findon 1866"warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, the king and people of fiji

Rev. W. A. Quick (1820-1915) was a significant figure in Victorian Methodism. President of the Queen's College Council 1888-1908. Chairman of the Tasmanian District 1861-71. President of the Australian Conference, 1866.Carte de Visite. Sepia toned head and shoulders studio portrait of the Rev. William Abraham Quick. The Rev Quick is looking to his left.Printed on the front: "J.W.LINDT MELBOURNE" Handwritten in ink on the back "Rev. W.A.Quick"methodist, wesleyan, president queen's college council, chairman tasmanian district, william abraham quick, president wesleyan conference victoria

Rev John Watsford (1820 - 1907). Born at Parramatta, N.S.W. First Australian born minister of the Methodist Conference. Spent 8 years with the Wesleyan Mission in Fiji. Founded Prince Alfred College Adelaide. Home Mission Secretary for Victoria. President of the Australasian Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church 1871. President of the General Conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1878. Australasian Representative at the Ecumenical Council of Methodism in London 1881.B & W Head and shoulders printed image of the Rev. John Watsford. Taken from a photograph."Rev. John Watsord, Ex-President Wesleyan Conference, Victoria, Australia. (The Venerable President of Christian Conventions.)"john watsfore, wesleyan, methodist, minister, parramatta, fiji, prince alfred college, home mission, president australasian conference, ecumenical council

Lydia Pethards book of hymns with black soft cover and gold lettering, published by London Wesleyan Conference Office. Name written in pencil inside front cover, Lydia Pethard.books, music, religion

Book of Hymns with black hard cover and gold lettering on spine. Published by London Wesleyan Conference Office, name written in pencil inside front cover G.A.Pethard and on page ends in ink initials GAP.books, music, religion

George Pethards book of hymns with black soft cover and gold lettering on front & spine, published by London Wesleyan Conference Office. Written in ink inside front cover, G.A.Pethard Golden Square 1905.books, music, religion

Dark burgundy coloured leather bible with gilt page edges. The bible has been mended with black tape. There is printed sheet pasted inside the front cover of the bible. "PRESENTED TO THE Rev. Henry Worrall ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ORDINATION TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN CONNECTION WITH THE Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church AT THE New South Wales and Queensland Conference at Stanmore Sydney Febr. 4th 1886"worral, henry, rev., wesleyan methodist conference

Born 1823 West Indies, commenced ministry 1847, died 1890 in Rookwood, NSW. Joseph Horner Fletcher (1823-1890), Wesleyan minister, was born at St Vincent, Windward Islands, the eldest son of Rev. Joseph Fletcher, Wesleyan missionary, and his wife Mary, née Horner. In 1830-37 he attended a Methodist school in Kingswood, England, and then his uncle's school in Bath. He entered business but in July 1842 became a local preacher. He was accepted for the Wesleyan ministry in 1845 and after training at Richmond College, Surrey, he married Kate Green in December 1848. He was sent to Auckland, New Zealand, where he became the founding principal of Wesley College. In 1856 poor health obliged him to take up circuit work in Auckland and New Plymouth, where he witnessed the Maori war. He moved to Queensland and in 1861-64 was on circuit in Brisbane. In 1863 he became the first chairman of the Queensland Wesleyan District. In 1865 Fletcher was serving at Ipswich when invited to succeed Rev. John Manton as president of Newington College, Sydney. He acknowledged that the main business of the school was secular education in a Christian atmosphere and believed that education could help to overcome sectarianism. He invited distinguished academics to examine Newington students and strongly supported (Sir) Henry Parkes's education policies. He opposed the formation of a Methodist university college until a strong secondary school was established. He believed that boys should be taught to appreciate orderly conduct rather than to fear punishment and that corporal punishment was degrading and to be used only in extreme circumstances. Under Fletcher Newington developed a high moral tone and a tradition of order and respect. After he retired in 1887 the old boys gave him an address of appreciation and a portrait in oils to be hung in the hall. In addition to his normal duties from 1883 he had taught resident theological students. From 1887 he was an effective and progressive full-time theological tutor. As a preacher Fletcher had exceptional power: he expressed his thoughts in a fresh way with sparkling illustrations and characteristic humour. He combined humility with great spiritual power, prophetic vision and administrative ability. He encouraged the development of institutional church work which grew into the Central Methodist Mission in Sydney. Fletcher was elected as the first president of the New South Wales and Queensland Wesleyan Methodist Conference in 1874 and again in 1884, when he was also president of the General Conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church. As conference editor in 1868, 1871 and 1873, Fletcher contributed more than fifty articles, numerous essays and reviews of books to the Weekly Advocate. He read widely, deeply and with discrimination. Never robust in health, he suffered months of illness before he died aged 66 at Stanmore, Sydney, on 30 June 1890. He was survived by three sons and two daughters, and buried in the Wesleyan section of Rookwood cemetery. In 1892 his eldest son, Joseph, edited a memorial edition of his Sermons, Addresses & Essays. Information from Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 4, 1972. Sepia toned carte de visite. Seated studio portrait of the Rev. Joseph Fletcher.Rev Joseph Fletcherrev. joseph fletcher, joseph horner, wesleyan minister, newington college sydney, new zealand, queensland, president general conference, wesleyan methodist church, central methodist mission

In 1889 the Wesleyan Conference resolved that the Corryong & Cudgewa Home Mission Stations should be made a circuit.B & W exterior view of the Cudgewa Methodist Church.cudgewa methodist church

Rev. Charles H Kelly (1833-1911) was twice president of the Wesleyan Conference and was a publisher of Who’s Who in Methodism.Satin, sepia, head and shoulders, studio portrait of Rev. Charles H. Kelly on card.ch, wesleyan, who’s who in methodism

Rev. Dr. Thomas Bowman Stephenson (1839-1912) founder of the NCH and Wesley Deaconess Institute in 1890, President of Wesleyan Conference in 1891, and was the author of several hymns.Satin, black and white, head and shoulders, studio portrait of Rev. Dr. Thomas Bowman Stephenson.stephenson tb, wesleyan

Rev. Frederic William MacDonald (1842-1928) was a Methodist minister and President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. He was also a writer.Matte, black and white, head and shoulders, studio portrait of Rev. Frederic William MacDonald on card.methodist, macdonald, fw, wesleyan

Rev. John Allen Manton (1807 - 1864) was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. He was appointed missionary to Australia in 1830. In 1833 he was appointed first chaplain at Port Arthur penal settlement. President of Horton College, first Secretary of the Australasian Wesleyan Conference, President of Conference in 1857. In 1860 took charge of Parramatta Circuit, President of Collegiate Institution Newington. Died 9 September 1864.Waist length B & W printed etching of the Rev. John Allen Manton."Revd. John Allen Manton. President of the Australasian Conference and Governor of Horton College, Tasmania. Engraved by J. Cochran."john allen manton, wesleyan, minister, missionary, horton college, president of conference, parramatta, collegiate institution newington, port arthur

Rev. Edmund Sorrell Bickford (1816-1895) was President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in 1896 and in 1903 was elected the Second President after union.Semi-gloss, sepia, head and shoulders studio portrait image of Rev. Edmund Sorrell Bickfordmethodist, president, bickford, e. s., union

The foundation stone of the New Wesleyan Church, Were Street, Brighton, Victoria was laid by Mrs W P Wells, the wife of the Superintendent of the Brighton Circuit and President of the Victorian Wesleyan Conference in 1887. The foundation stone was temporarily removed in the late 1930s and the 1937 publication "Were Street Jubilee" details the "proposed Jubilee Church". The same trowel was used when the stone was re-laid in 1955 at the beginning of the construction on the new church. S060.1 Silver commemorative trowel with a bone handle. The front and back both have inscriptions. The front has heavily engraved decoration. S060.2: Presentation box for S060.1. Teal colour rouched satin lined box made of brown leather.S060.1 Front: "TO MRS W. P. Wells ON THE OCCASION OF HER LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE Wesleyan Church WERE STREET BRIGHTON APRIL 2ND 1887" S090.1 Back: "THIS TROWEL WAS USED BY REV. A.W.PEDERICK, L.TH. PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE TO Lay the Foundation Stone of the new WERE STREET METHODIST CHURCH 30th JULY 1955".rev a w pederick, mrs w p wells, rev william p wells, were street methodist church brighton victoria, wesleyan church were street brighton victoria

Born in South Australia. Entered the ministry in 1869. Served at Daylesford, St. Arnaud, Wandiligong, Eldorado, Sale, Bairnsdale, Melbourne Brunswick St., Dunolly, Ballarat Lydiard St., Sandhurst, Toorak, Nth. Melbourne, Hawthorn, Geelong, Carlton. He was President of the Victoria and Tasmania Conference in 1897, President of the Wesleyan Conference in 1897, President of the General Conference in 1907. Awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Queen's University, Toronto. Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Died at Kew in 1913.B & W head and shoulders studio portrait in postcard format of Rev.Dr William Williams (1848 - 1913).william williams, doctor of divinity, president of conference, linnaean society, methodist, wesleyan, minister

Born Grantham, Lincolnshire 9 August 1841. Migrated to Australia in 1849 and settled in Geelong. Entered the ministry in 1866. Posted to Mortlake, Echuca, South Yarra, Lonsdale St. Melbourne, Carlton, Bendigo and Hawthorn. Founding President of Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, 1882. Elected President of the Wesleyan Conference of 1895 and was the first President following Church Union in 1902. Elected President General in 1904. Married 1870 (1) Jemima Shaw - died 1918; (2) 1920 Edith Skelton nee Wimble, widow of the Rev William Williams. Died 25 May 1928.Sepia toned head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. William Henry Fitchett, in carte de visite format.william henry fitchett, methodist, minister, methodist ladies college, president of conference

Born Grantham, Lincolnshire 9 August 1841. Migrated to Australia in 1849 and settled in Geelong. Entered the ministry in 1866. Posted to Mortlake, Echuca, South Yarra, Lonsdale St. Melbourne, Carlton, Bendigo and Hawthorn. Founding President of Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, 1882. Elected President of the Wesleyan Conference of 1895 and was the first President following Church Union in 1902. Elected President General in 1904. Married 1870 (1) Jemima Shaw - died 1918; (2) 1920 Edith Skelton nee Wimble, widow of the Rev William Williams. Died 25 May 1928.B & W head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. William Henry Fitchett mounted on buff card.william henry fitchett, methodist, minister, methodist ladies college, president of conference

This is a programme for a Service of Intercession in Relation to the War. It was held by the Methodist Church (Victoria and Tasmania Conference) in October 1915. The Wesleyan Methodist Conference at Birmingham, England requested that Sunday October 31st 1915 be set aside as a Day of Thanksgiving and Intercession throughout Britain and all other countries in the British Empire. The service was held to seek Divine intercession and aid for those on active military service in World War One and for the families of these men and women. This programme is of interest as the 1915 service would have been held in Methodist Churches throughout Victoria and Tasmania and this would have included the Warrnambool Methodist Church. World War One was a highly significant event in the history of Australia and Warrnambool, along with all other places in Australia, was affected deeply by the war with many young local people enlisting and many dying on active service.These are two sheets of paper folded in two to make eight pages. The pages contain a programme for the Methodist Church service in October 1915. The printing is in blue on a whitish/bluish background. The front cover is edged with blue lines. There is a blue stamp of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society on the front cover. The programme has been stapled but the staples have been removed. methodist church, world war one

John Thomas was born at Worcester, England in 1796 and he became a blacksmith at Hagley, Worcestershire before becoming a Methodist and he soon started to preach. He married Sarah Hartshorn who predeceased him in 1867. He was accepted by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) in 1824 and he became a pioneering missionary to Tonga (the Friendly Isles) in the South Pacific. He sailed first to Australia, and eventually arrived in Tonga in 1826, together with his wife and fellow missionary John Hutchinson.Initially he preached in Hihifo, Tongatapu from 1826 to 1828 and then moved to the island of Ha’apai in 1829. He baptised the chief Taufa’ahua Tupou in 1831 and enthroned him with English rites as the first King of all Tonga in 1845. Although the WMMS withdrew from Samoa in 1839, Thomas advocated its re-entry and he supported the King’s policy of sending Tongan Wesleyan missionaries to Fiji and Samoa. John Thomas also persuaded the Australasian Wesleyan Conference ( which took over the Pacific region from the British in 1855) to reverse the London Missionary Society’s decision regarding Samoa. John Thomas had 2 periods in Tonga from 1826 to 1850 and 1855 to 1859. Following a visit to England his influence with King Tupou waned in the 1850's and he retired to England and became a supernumerary minister at Stourbridge, Worcestershire, where he died in 1881. His wife Sarah had been a partner in his missionary work until she died 14 years earlier than he did. John Thomas’ name is honoured by having one of the 12 dormitory houses of Toupou College in the capitol of Tonga named after him. John Thomas House is House #1, and it is customary for the Head Prefect to reside in this dormitory. B & W engraving from a photograph of the Rev. John Thomas, formerly missionary in the Friendly IslandsRevd. John Thomas, Formerly Missionary in the Friendly Islands, Engraved by J. Cochran from a Photograph.rev. john thomas, methodist, tonga, friendly islands, wesleyan, missionary, wesleyan methodist missionary society

1. Plan: Henry Dendy's Eltham Land 1857-1867: showing Diamond Creek, Bridge Street, Maria Street now Main Road, John Street, Pitt Street, St Margaret's Church 1861, and Eltham Community Centre 1987. 2. Photocopy extract from "Henry Dendy and his emigrants" by L A Schumer, re Portions 12 and 13, Parish of Nillumbik. 3. The President and Councillors of the Shire of Eltham request the pleasure of ____ at the Official Opening of the Eltham Community Centre, Cnr Main Road and Pitt Street, Eltham by the Honorable R.J. Hamer E.D., M.P., Premier of Victoria on Saturday, 22nd April, 1978 at 3.30pm 4. Souvenir Program, Opening of Eltham Community Centre 22 April 1975. 5. Invitation to attend Official Opening of Eltham Community Centre by R J Hamer, Premier of Victoria, 22 April 1975. 6. Flier for Eltham Reception and Conference Centre, photographs of interiors during events. 7. Newspaper article: Eltham buries present for the future, Diamond Valley News 19 November 1985 Eltham, photograph of burying time capsule outside Eltham Community Centre, photograph of Bill Baker and Sid Brown outside old blacksmith shop the original site of Eltham town centre. 8. Letter Peter Butler Shire of Eltham to Eltham District Historical Society, 6 July 1987, detailing process for naming of the halls at the Eltham Community Centre.6 July 1987. 9. Plan of Main Road Eltham - it depicts buildings and occupiers from Pitt Street to Luck Street in the first half of the 20th century. This plan was compiled as a joint efforts by members of the Shire of Eltham Historical Society at a general meeting in Eltham during the 1980s. Newspaper article: Swimming pool and community centre receive major revamps, Diamond Valley Leader, 21 October 2015.main road, eltham, eltham community centre, henry dendy, eltham reception and conference centre, bill baker, sidney brown blacksmith, tme capsule, arthur street, babe taylor house, bakery, boarding house, bradley house, bridge street, brown blacksmith, burgoyne's shop, cockcrofts store, commercial bank of australasia, david lyon house, davis, dr cordner, dr hall, dudley street, eltham hotel, eltham obelisk, eltham war memorial, garnet burges, graham, hawker, henry street, john lyon, len perron, luck street, lyons garage, map, mechanics insitute, monteith house, mrs morris shop, our lady help of christian’s primary school, panther place, pitt street, prior street, shillinglaw cottage, shops, stones mixed shop, websters house, wesleyan methodist church, york street

From the collection of the Rev James Watkin. From the collection of the Rev James Watkin. The Rev James Watkin, 1805-1886, was a Pioneer Wesleyan missionary. He was born in Manchester, UK, in 1805. In 1830 was accepted as a candidate for the Wesleyan Ministry and married Hannah Entwistle. They sailed with a missionary party to Tonga. The work of the mission was jeopardised by prolonged and involved struggles between Christian and non-Christian Tongan chiefs. He left with his family for Sydney in September 1837. He was offered a free passage for a missionary appointed to Waikouaiti, New Zealand and arrived there in May 1840. He established the first mission station in the South Island of New Zealand. Watkin established schools at Waikouaiti and Matanaka, and stationed partly trained Maori teachers at Stewart Island and at Moeraki. He had a natural flair for languages, preached in Maori four months after his arrival, and compiled an elementary reading book to be printed in Ngai Tahu. Watkin was relieved by Charles Creed and inWatkin finished his posiion in Waikouaiti in June 1844 when he sailed for Wellington, leaving 227 church members in Otago. In 1855 Watkin settled in New South Wales, Australia, and was president of the National Methodist Conference at Adelaide in 1862. He retired in 1869 and died on 14 May 1886, at Ashfield, New South Wales. Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/watkin-jamesMid nineteenth century cylindrical woven carry bag with a lid attached and a platted handle. The bag has a brown pattern within the weaving at the top and bottom.rev james watkin, pioneer wesleyan missionary

James Bickford (1816-1895), Wesleyan clergyman, was born on 6 May 1816 in Modbury, Devon, England, fifth child of John Bickford, tenant farmer, and his wife Anne, née Whiteway. He received an elementary education and then worked for a commercial house at near-by Kingsbridge in 1830. Although raised in the Church of England, Bickford joined the Wesleyan society at Kingsbridge and was appointed a local preacher in 1835. He decided to become a missionary, and after a short informal training by the Wesleyan Missionary Society was ordained on 29 October 1838. Rev James Bickford became superintendent of the Yarra Street, Geelong, circuit in 1866. He was elected president of the Australasian Conference in 1868. Increased involvement in public affairs followed his appointment to Wesley Church, Melbourne, in 1870 and he was associated with the Society for Promoting Morality and the Sabbath Defence Association. Despite his previous advocacy of a 'mixed system' of education he supported the Victorian Education Act of 1872 as the only solution to sectarianism. [Source: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bickford-james-2993]Brown leather with gilt embossing and illuminated borders. The Testimonial contains the signatures of the Circuit Stewards.rev james bickford 1816-1895, wesleyan church geelong circuit

Benjamin Danks was b. 1853 England, ordained 1878, and died 1921 in Rookwood, NSW. DANKS, Benjamin (1853-1921) Michael Horsburgh, DANKS, BENJAMIN (b. Wednesbury, England, 12 Feb 1853; d. Sydney, NSW, 12 April 1921). Methodist missionary in New Britain and missionary administrator. Benjamin Danks migrated to Vic with his family when a young child. He entered the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1878 and was sent with his wife, Emma, daughter of John and Elizabeth Watsford, to join the Rev George Brown in the newly established missionary venture on the Duke of York group in New Britain, where he remained for nine years. An opponent of 'blackbirding', the traffic in indentured island labour for the Australian sugar cane industry, he warned local inhabitants not to go aboard any vessel recruiting labour for distant places, much to the displeasure of the labour traders. In 1880 he participated in the rescue of the survivors of the ill-fated settlement established by the Marquis de Rays. In 1907 he succeeded George Brown as the general secretary of Foreign Missions for the Methodist Church of Australasia and was president of the NSW Conference in 1908. He retired in 1918 and died in 1921 after a long illness attributed to the privations of his missionary career. Danks was highly regarded as a linguist and published the first book in the Tolai language of New Britain. He was a strong supporter of state legislation to control social evils, and to ensure pure food and drugs. He was an ardent temperance advocate. George Brown, An Autobiography (London, 1908); New South Wales Methodist Conference, Souvenir of the Presidency of the Rev. Benjamin Danks (Sydney, 1909); Wallace Deane (ed), In Wild New Britain (Sydney, 1933); Neville Threlfall, One Hundred Years in the Islands (Rabaul, 1975). MICHAEL HORSBURGH Electronic Version © Southern Cross College, 2004. Content © Evangelical History Association of Australia and the author, 2004.Photocopy of page from a book (A4 size) with pictures of Danks and Mrs. Danks and a map showing New Britain and New Ireland and the mission stations of the New Britain district of the Wesleyan Methodist Mission and the sites of the Free Colony of New France.danks, benjamin, new britain